BOILERS & HOT WATER


BSEE


The new guide aimed to stop installers getting into hot water and a warning of the impact of water hardness


Water hardness critical when specifying water cylinders


As part of its Love Your Cylinder campaign, Heatrae Sadia has launched a digital advice series to help answer some common quesons for installers


s the quality and hardness of water varies by region throughout the UK, an industry expert is urging contractors and facilities managers to consider the local water composition before specifying water heaters in commercial buildings in a bid to avoid products that are less susceptible to corrosion.


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Although many electric water heating products and cylinders use sacrificial anodes on steel-glass-lined and low-grade stainless- steel tanks, Alan Clarke, technical support manager at Heatrae Sadia, advises that they do not always work effectively in soft water areas.


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rise in multi- generationa l households means that cylinders are an


increasingly appropriate choice for homeowners, and with research highlighting the boost that a boiler and


bathroom renovation can bring to a home’s value2


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this trend looks set to continue. Despite this, there remain a number of recurring questions amongst installers, on topics such as how they work, when they should be installed, and the level of training required. David Cook, residential sales director – UK & Ireland at Heatrae Sadia, comments: “Hot water cylinders present a brilliant opportunity to add value to a plumbing and heating business. The increase in multigenerational living and the aspirational appeal of high-performance water systems means that installers will come into increasing contact with hot water cylinders.


“But we also know that installers are incredibly busy, which is why we’ve created a downloadable and concise set of FAQs that can be taken on-the-go, providing a handy reference tool whenever it is required.” The guide follows the results of an online quiz that was hosted on the Heatrae Sadia


website, which helped to highlight potential gaps in heating engineers’ knowledge. For example, only 37% of respondents were aware that plastic pipework can be fitted to a hot water cylinder. The quiz also found that nearly 1/5 of participants were unaware installers must be G3 certified to fit a hot water cylinder. The FAQs guide addresses this, alongside covering a range of key points, such as the difference between vented and unvented. It then goes into more detail by outlining the questions that an installer should ask ahead of specifying a cylinder, which entails assessing how much water a household needs (dependant on a range of factors, including number of occupants).


Finally, the guide moves on to the nitty-gritty of installation, before


emphasising the importance of servicing, recommending timescales and the process that needs to be followed. Cook concludes: “The Love Your Cylinder campaign is designed to do just that – to get installers and


homeowners talking about hot water cylinders and the value they can bring to a property. The guide aims to create a greater awareness of the benefits of a cylinder, and provide advice on the process of fitting one.” The Love Your Cylinder guide can be found at:


www.heatraesadia.com/ loveyourcylinderFAQ


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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/10/ rise-of-multigenerational-family-living


https://www.safestore.co.uk/blog/2019/05/improve-or-move/ Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JANUARY 2020 17


Clarke comments: “The anode acts as a sacrifice, whereby the water within a cylinder attacks it causing oxidisation and consequent corrosion, protecting the cylinder’s inner shell. As soft water has low electrical conductivity, this reaction with the anode does not take place, and although initial inspections may not show the cylinder to be in bad condition, undetected corrosion may be taking place.” As a result, Clarke is encouraging the


industry to opt for cylinders that use corrosion- resistant materials for the inner vessel, removing the need for an anode. These are often designed with the UK’s make up in mind using high-grade copper or duplex stainless steel which feature low reactivity. He continues: “There is rarely a one-size-fits- all solution when it comes to water heaters, particularly with the water composition varying so significantly throughout the UK. However, by choosing a water heater that doesn’t require a sacrificial anode, the end user can not only benefit from a longer- lasting cylinder, but maintenance costs which are considerably reduced. Lower cost of ownership is desirable for any commercial building, as is investing in hot water products that prioritise efficiency and longevity, resulting in environmental benefits. “Although there is undeniably a place for systems that include sacrificial anodes or powered anodes in the UK, the industry needs to take the local water composition into consideration before making any final decisions. This will ultimately ensure the most appropriate water cylinder is specified for the commercial building.”


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